Where should I go to get my brakes replaced?
In that one simple question, there are really two
underlying questions to be addressed. They are: “Who should
I trust to put new brakes on my car?” Moreover, “What does
a brake job really entail?” The first question is relatively
straight forward, and so is the answer. You should
go to your trusted mechanic. The same one who does
your oil changes, your tune-ups and your mechanical
breakdown repairs, and who answers all of your car-related
questions. In short, you should have a relationship
with one shop and that’s where you should go for everything
related to your car(s).
The second part of the question is more complex. Several
different grades of brake pads are available, and while
some cars will do fine with low-priced organic brake
pads, other vehicles will squeal like a smoke detector
in the middle of the night if you install anything
other than ceramic brake pads. Some cars will produce
what looks like pounds of black dust from using metallic
brake pads, and others will never produce a noticeable
amount. Furthermore, some brake jobs will require additional
work like resurfacing of the brake rotors, wheel seal
replacement, or repacking of wheel bearings. Again,
you should consult with your trusted repair shop not
only on when you should replace your brakes, but also
on just what that brake job entails. Beware of the
overcrowded newspaper ad that says “Lifetime Brake
Job $89.95”; if it sounds too good to be true…
If you don’t have a relationship with a trusted mechanic,
it’s time you started to develop one. Look for the AAA
logo on a shop near you and stop by for a visit.
